Hail to the Brightness of Zion’s Glad Morning!

Hail to the brightness of Zion’s glad morning!
Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain!
Hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning;
Zion in triumph begins her mild reign.

Hail to the brightness of Zion’s glad morning!
Long by the prophets of Israel foretold!
Hail to the millions from bondage returning!
Gentiles and Jews the blest vision behold.

Lo, in the desert rich flowers are springing,
Streams ever copious are gliding along;
Loud from the mountain tops echoes are ringing,
Wastes rise in verdure, and mingle in song.

See, from all lands, from the isles of the ocean,
Praise to the Savior ascending on high;
Fallen the engines of war and commotion;
Shouts of salvation are rending the sky.

Author: Thomas Hastings

Year: 1830

This hymn text by Thomas Hastings (1784–1872) first appeared in Spiritual Songs for Social Worship (1832, co-edited with Lowell Mason). It is sometimes paired with the tune WESLEY by Lowell Mason. No significant alternate attributions exist.